I am obsessed with this book, absolutely obsessed. It’s such a fun story and honestly so different. I knew reading the synopsis it was something I would enjoy but I’m so glad I got approved for it. I love Emily, I love how driven she is. She really reminded me of Evie from The Mummy if that gives you an idea of her character. I think I’m already gonna do a re-read!

I really wanted to love this book, as so many readers said they did. I didn't. The subjects are some of my favorites; love, adventure, unseen Ones and magic. However, the writing style is simply too ponderous for me, more than is required by the era in which it takes place.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I loved this book! It was fun, delightfully uniquely written, and I cannot wait to see what this author does next. The main characters were delightfully unique and I loved the format that this book was written. The little asides and footnotes only made this more believable. I am looking forward to seeing what this author does next in the adult fiction world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC.

I loved this book, it was a little light fantasy and cute romance. Our main character is Emily, a bookish professor creating an encyclopedia of faeries. She is a investigating the last leg of her book, The Hidden Ones, a faerie species in far off Hrafnsvik. I liked the academic aspect of this book and how Emily was described. I almost got the feeling she was on the ASD spectrum. She starts off on rough footing when she insults the village headwoman by rejecting her hospitality. Have no fear because her charming and some might say otherworldly colleague, Wendell Bambleby is here to save Emily from herself. What ensues is part fairytale and part light romance.

Overall I enjoyed this book. I like the descriptions of faerie species and the footnotes at the end of some of the chapters. I thought the author did a nice job world building and making the novel really seem like an academic journal. I did have several grammatical and spelling errors in my copy. The only other thing I didn't love is that I found some parts of the book repetitive, like they were explaining the same concept over and over. Otherwise it was a cute little jaunt into an alternative world where faeries not only exist, but are part of a respected study.

If you enjoy any stories about the Folk or Fae then I think you will enjoy this book. It's written as diary entries and follows dryadologist Emily Wilde as she travels to a northern island to study the Hidden Folk and complete her encyclopaedia. Her colleague Brambleby ends up joining her and chaos ensues. I did think the book ended a little abruptly but otherwise enjoyed the book.

One professor’s journey to a small nordic town to study an elusive group of faerie leads to grander discoveries in Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries.

Leaving the comfort and familiarity of Cambridge, which has been home to Emily Wilde for much of her life, she embarks on her latest journey to study a specific group of faeries, called the Hidden Ones, with the hope of gathering enough research to complete the very first encyclopaedia of faerie lore, which she’s been working on for many years. Arriving in the village of Hrafnsvik with her books and dog, Shadow, in tow, Emily gets down to work quickly, with no intention of befriending the townsfolk, as she’s never been good at interacting with people, despite needing to speak with them to learn of their experiences with the Folk. Having quickly met with some resistance from the locals for an offense she can’t recall making, Emily is soon joined by her insufferable colleague, Wendell Bambleby, who, though uninvited, is able to charm the townsfolk back to aid them while meddling in Emily’s research. As Emily delves deeper in to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones and the increasing disappearances of young people from Hrafnsvik her mind roves to try to solve the mystery of Bambleby – not just why he’s here but confirming her long-held suspicions about him as well – while trying to devise a way to help protect the townsfolk from being unduly targeted and harmed by the faeries; in trying to study the faeries, Emily might just become part of their story.

Written in a style of narration that presents as a journal documenting the faerie investigation of Hidden Ones/Folk, the story is presented from Emily’s perspective as a professor of dryadology; as it is written from a mostly scholarly perspective interspersed with personal observations, there are endnotes for entries that expand upon certain terminologies used that are helpful, but would, in my opinion, be better if footnoted on the related page (especially when e-reading). With a second perspective included through Wendell in a brief interlude, it made logical sense to do so as part of the narrative’s progression and the events taking place rather than including it just because it could be there. Emily was a relatable character for those of a more bookish nature (hello!) and there was a level of obliviousness to her that made the more personal and romantic interactions, when they occurred, come across as too rapid and without much foundation, though perhaps that’s a result of Emily’s obtuseness of interpersonal communication, which does show development over time as she begins to let people in to her life. As the premise relates to faeries, it was enjoyable to see how that manifested in the well-built world through the different fae encountered and the magic they wield, as well as the incorporation of some faerie tales within the narrative, some told in full and some in quick summation to highlight the relevant point for dealing with the issue at hand.

Overall, I’d give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to the publisher for sending this my way in exchange for an honest review.

This was the fantasy I never knew I needed, it slightly reminded me of the spider wick chronicles in some aspects which made me love it more. I ended up finishing this in one sitting: the writing was so beautiful I couldn’t put it down!

I received a digital copy of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries via NetGalley to read and review.

This is a field diary of Emily’s research. The beginning is very dull and straightforward which is exactly how Emily functions. She is arguably socially awkward and very smart.

Emily is setting off in search of the Hidden Folk which very little to no research exists. She had planned to do this venture on her own but her colleague, Wendell decides to join her. Wendell is by far my favorite character since he’s more charismatic and keeps everything from getting too dull.

With Wendell’s arrival the research gets VERY interesting and Emily finds herself in multiple situations she never dreamed she would be in. She goes in head first in the name of science even though it’s clear she’s growing as a person.

I truly enjoyed Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries and hope there’s more to come!

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett is a great fictional novel that has fantasy, history, folklore, mystery, suspense, and a dash of romance. Very unique and enjoyable.

I really like Emily. She is an academic, inquisitive, imperfect, and her interactions with Wendell are great. The progression of their relationship as a side note to the mystery, suspense, and research threads balance nicely.

I enjoyed the historical fiction threads, the folklore, and the fantasy aspects involving faeries. It all was braided together nice fir an entertaining and unique book that I really enjoyed.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Del Rey / Random House Publishing Group for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/10/23.

I found this to be a very unique take on the fae. The diary/journal entry style gave it a very academic feel, while still remaining interesting and providing great world-building. I love the characters of Emily and Wendell!

I adored this book, and I can seriously see so many of my friends adoring this too. It’s such a unique take on the Fae, for so many reasons, while still sticking to the same core that I’ve seen in so many stories. Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is an almost academic take on the Fae and on the stories surrounding them, and it worked so much better than I ever could have imagined.

The premise of this book circles around Emily and her academic interest in the Fae, wanting to be the first to write a cohesive guide to all the different types of Fae in the world. There are variations based on region, environment, and so much more, and Emily wants to meet them all. The entire story is told through the research journal she keeps while exploring the Hidden Ones, one of the last unexplored types of Fae, and this unique narration style only enhances the academic atmosphere of the book. The world this book is set in already has a large academic community entirely based on researching the Fae and learning more about them, and it’s constantly referenced in Emily’s research journal, through footnotes and references to research others have done before.

This set-up alone was enough to draw me in to the book, but then the characters themselves only drew me in more. Emily is a classic prickly academic, someone so focused on the pursuit of knowledge that she thinks of little else. Even then, something about her curiosity, and her wealth of knowledge when it comes to the Fae, is so endearing, that you begin to look past her walls and appreciate her as a narrator. And while the pursuit of knowledge is always her main goal, she begins to care about some of the people around her as well, and take them into account beyond just their use as study material. And even if Emily isn’t the character for you, Wendell surely is. He almost literally breaks right into the narrative a few chapters in, and shakes everything up in the best of ways. He has the same interests as Emily, but is everything she isn’t: charming, talkative, and not exactly inclined to hard-work. Their dynamic is such a fun one to read, and I adored reading their banter, and seeing them grow even closer over the course of this book was wonderful.

The only thing that I wish I’d known going in was that the book had a sequel, because it would’ve changed my perception of the ending, as I went in expected things to be a bit more wrapped up than they were. However, I’m ecstatic that there’s more to come of Emily and Wendell’s adventures, and I can’t wait to buy a physical copy of this when it releases! If you love the Fae, from their wealth of lore and stories to their scheming ways, then this book is definitely one for you! It breathes new life into Faerie stories, and tackles this popular subject in such a new and unique way!

LOVED this one!!! Can’t recommend enough! Great enemies to lovers romance and SO unique, with amazing world-building and creatures. One of my new favorites. 5/5 stars, which I very rarely give.

3.5 stars. This book was made me want to curled up on a rainy day. It was a little bit slow at the start. But the book had great character and pretty solid plot & world building. I would definitely recommend to anyone that enjoys fantasy.

Thank you Random House for the advanced copy!

This was exactly the book I needed in place of the negativity out in the real world right now. Heather Fawcett has given us a fabulous heroine who inhabits a world many of us fantasy fans only dream of - scholarly study of faeries. I mean, who *wouldn’t* love that job???

Fawcett’s writing is peppered with high-level vocabulary that incredibly flows through the text without bogging down the narrative. She tosses out words like “inchoate” like candy left as offerings for the fae. Main character Emily Wilde is delightful. She knows who she is and she definitely knows her value, even if she’s socially awkward.

The only thing that keeps this from being a 5 star read is the goofy and IMHO unnecessary romantic entanglement that happens in the last half. However, I expect that will appeal to fans of romance/fantasy of which I am not one.

Otherwise, this is a supremely fun read. I look forward to more of Fawcett’s stories.

I was suggested this book due to having read Naomi Novik's Uprooted ARC.
I haven't read an ARC in quite some time, but it sounded up my alley - and it was!

I definitely think fans of Uprooted and Spinning Silver will enjoy this a lot.

Also if you enjoyed Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (and her book of short stories set in the same universe). Though it's much short than JS&MN.
It also brought to mind Marie Brennan's A Natural History of Dragons series

Speaking of series, I definitely hope that this continues. It seemed as if it might, though the ending was good on it's own.


I really enjoyed that the narrator is very passionate about her work, and has trouble being likable to the people of the town she's staying in.

When her actions positively affect others, it doesn't come (primarily) from a place of selflessness or heroic tendencies, but from a place of academic self interest that was interesting. Especially that it wasn't maligned; it was acknowledged that regardless of her reasons, she was still doing good.

It was a very fun foil to her friend and colleague, Bambleby, whose good looks and charm make him immensely more likeable, but hide an even more selfish and idolent excuse for a scholar.

Their prickly friendship was very amusing and definitely was the highlight of the story for me.

This wonderfully enchanting book describes the adventures of a serious and focused academic who slowly begins to learn the power of allowing others into your life. We are introduced to a charming cast of practical, down-to-earth characters who each add their own spin to the tale. I thoroughly enjoyed this and hope she continues the story.

I received this ARC from Netgalley. I requested it because I received an email from the publisher that I would probably enjoy this novel and to request it if it sounded interesting to me. The email implied that as I enjoyed Naomi Novik that I would like this novel. I did, in fact, really enjoy this novel.

Emily Wilde arrives in Ljosland to study the "Hidden Ones" in order to write a scholarly book on faeries, uncovering information no one else ever has. She arrives with her companion "dog," Shadow. Emily focuses very well, to the extent that she fails to socialize successfully. Upon arrival, she finds herself in a cabin inhabited by a sheep and colder than the bleak, cold outdoors, for Ljosland is far north. I imagine a place like northern Norway with fjords and ice. Needless to say, she fails to make close friends not realizing that she has insulted Aud, the matron of the town (best way to describe her). Emily contentedly ventures out seeking different faeries, quite capable of negotiating with them without harm to herself. She writes in her journal, which is the novel we are reading, revealing her knowledge of faeries as well as her complete lack of knowledge with social niceties. She also mentions her greatest rival: Wendell Bambleby.

After establishing Emily's character and her purpose for the journal, the novel picks up making it difficult to put down. Of course, Wendell arrives. He excels with social interactions, charming everyone as soon as he meets them. Now Emily is sharing her small abode with Wendell and the two students he brought to help with the research. Needless to say, they bicker frequently, which is quite amusing. Despite arguing, they are a perfect scholarly pair. As they seek the "Hidden Ones," they also find truths about each other and the people in their village of Hrafnsvik. Lately, the "Hidden Ones" have been taking more children from their village than any other. If the children return, they are blank vessels. One family also has a changeling, which has created a cursed home. Emily insists Wendell help when two of the families they've grown close to have a daughter go missing. She also insists on helping fix the changeling situation. Inadvertently, Emily has created trust within this community with her skills and knowledge. Eventually, of course, they find the "Hidden Ones," which will make them the most sought out and only scholars who have accomplished such a feat. They do, however, have to survive the encounter with their minds and bodies attached.

I leave the plot there, as I abhor revealing surprises or the ending. I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between Emily and Wendell. I laughed out loud several times. Once Wendell arrives in the novel, I couldn't put the book down. I have few criticisms. I often have trouble with "journal" novels because no one would write a journal as Emily does. It's obviously written to tell a story to a reader instead of a journal one would keep about one's own life. I always struggle with suspending my disbelief with this style of writing. I'm also unsure I understood the ending. I have several thoughts running through my head and will have to get another librarian to read it so that we can talk about it! I think I should have paid more attention to the ravens in the novel. Overall, this novel delightfully entertained me during my week-long vacation where I could enjoy traveling and then escape to this world of faeries at the end of the day to wind down. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel!

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries is a delightful read and an easy recommend! Featuring a smart, savvy, and brutally practical heroine who is on a mission to create a thorough compendium of all known faerie species, this historical fantasy is rife with magical mischief and bewitching bargains that might just cost Emily everything.

This is perfection in book form! This made my list of instant favorites.

Emily Wilde is a misanthropic, introverted researcher working to write the first conclusive encyclopedia of fairies, which of course exist in the world of the book. She and her dog Shadow travel to a tiny village in Norway that's within the Artic Circle to research the local fae population, much to her colleague Bamblesby's dismay. Emily enjoys her solitude, but when she manages to insult the village headwoman, she's grateful for the charming Bamblesby's arrival to smooth things over with the villagers. Indeed, Emily may need his help, because all her usual rules for dealing with fae and their curses may not be enough here. Bamblesby's secrets may be the only thing that can save her.

From a friendship with a common fae named Poe to changelings in the village to the legend of the Fairy King trapped in a tree, the further Emily gets immersed into her research, the greater the dangers.

Emily's dialogue with Bamblesby is a delight. Their dynamic consists of her being grumpy and unable to fall for his charms, and him finding her company completely delightful because of her abrasiveness. They both struggle with basic survival skills, as one of them manages to cut another with an axe while trying to chop wood. Emily's convinced of Bamblesby's laziness, as she knows of at least one scholarly paper that he's faked, but his charm gets him invited everywhere, making him her key to scholarly success. He's also her only friend.

Here's a sampling of their dynamic:

"Get inside! You're bleeding!"
"I will not bleed any less indoors, you utter madwoman."

"The worst of it was that Bambleby had warned me away from the tree - if I descended into a murderous rage, or turned into a tree myself, he would be very smug about it."

This was an interesting take on the fairy world, with Emily's perspective as a researcher providing a new angle. It's written from Emily's perspective, as she's giving the account in her diary, though Bambleby writes a few entries - without permission, of course! Emily also gives us fairy stories throughout the book, as she thinks the stories are the closest thing the fairy world has to rules and laws.

This book deals out the charm in spades. You will not regret reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow just wow this was amazing. The humor and diary format worked so well. It kind of reminded me of a Deadly Education which I devoured page after page. And that is what I did with this one!! I could not put it down. I need more books set in this world asap! Fawcett does a wonderful job blending this diary with the world around her characters in a breathtaking, humorous story that is unputdownable!